Iranian Journal of War and Public Health

en Effects of Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids and Functional Body System Exercises on Physical Fitness in Children with Intellectual Disabilities استانداردهای بهداشتی جانبازان يا معلولان Health Service Standards of Veterans or Handicapped پژوهشی اصيل Original Research Aims: Children with intellectual disabilities often exhibit lower levels of physical fitness. This study investigated the effects of sports, play, and active recreation for children, and of functional body system training programs, on selected physical fitness indices in children with intellectual disabilities. Materials & Methods: This semi-experimental study included 36 children with intellectual disabilities from Aligoudarz city. Participants were purposively selected and randomly assigned to three groups: the sports, play, and active recreation for kids training group; the functional body system training group; and the control group (n=12 each). The training groups completed selected sports, play, and active recreation for kids or functional body system protocols over 8 weeks, while the control group received no exercise intervention. Balance was assessed using the timed up-and-go test; muscular endurance using modified pull-up and sit-up tests; flexibility using the sit-and-reach test; and aerobic capacity using the 20-meter shuttle run test. Measurements were taken 48 hours before and after the training period. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25 software. Findings: Both training programs significantly improved balance (15.48% and 12.36%), muscular endurance (26.4% and 25.8%), flexibility (26.13% and 18.36%), and aerobic capacity (10.16% and 12%, respectively) compared to the control group (p≤0.05). However, no significant differences were found between the two training programs for any of these parameters (p>0.05). Conclusion: Sports, play, and active recreation for kids and functional body system training programs are equally effective, safe, enjoyable, and efficient interventions that enhance physical fitness indices in children with intellectual disabilities. Posture Balance, Children , Physical Fitness, Intellectual Disability 49 55 http://ijwph.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-2397-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 E. Goudarzi 15300319475328460028849 15300319475328460028849 No Department of Physical Education, Aligoudarz Campus (Al.C.), Islamic Azad University, Aligoudarz, Iran H. Barzegari Marvast 15300319475328460028850 15300319475328460028850 No Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran Z. Mosayebi 15300319475328460028851 15300319475328460028851 Yes Department of Physical Education, Aligoudarz Campus (Al.C.), Islamic Azad University, Aligoudarz, Iran